Arsenal suffered a setback ahead of their Champions League clash with Paris Saint-Germain on Saturday, as Evanilson led Bournemouth to a 2-1 win at the Emirates Stadium.
Declan Rice opened the scoring in his 100th appearance for the club, giving Mikel Arteta’s team the lead.
However, Dean Huijsen levelled in the second half, and Evanilson completed the comeback, giving Bournemouth their first away win over Arsenal.
Arsenal, who were defeated 1-0 by PSG in the first leg of the Champions League semi-finals on Tuesday, will need to improve significantly in the second leg on Wednesday in Paris.
The second-placed Gunners still need six points to ensure Champions League qualifying for next season with a top-five finish in the Premier League.
Arteta confessed this week that it was “very painful” to watch Liverpool celebrate their Premier League victory last weekend.
The Gunners have finished second to Manchester City in the last two seasons, and the Champions League is their last hope of winning a trophy this season.
Arteta is still looking for his second title in six years at Arsenal, having won the FA Cup in 2020.
Arsenal last made it to the Champions League final in 2006 and has never won the tournament.
With so much at stake at the Parc des Princes next week, it was surprising to see Arteta field a full-strength team in a relatively inconsequential game against Bournemouth.
Instead of resting, Arsenal’s starting lineup included crucial players Rice, Bukayo Saka, Martin Ødegaard, and William Saliba.
Jurrien Timber and Mikel Merino were conspicuous absentees for Arsenal, with Arteta confirming that the former will require a fitness test to decide his availability for the PSG match.
Bournemouth arrived in north London with a slim chance of qualifying for Europe, having already defeated Arsenal at the Vitality Stadium in October.
Evanilson started for Bournemouth after having his red card against Manchester United overturned.
The Brazilian attacker squandered a fantastic opportunity by heading over after Jakub Kiwior fell while attempting to clear Milos Kerkez’s cross.
Leandro Trossard came close to scoring for Arsenal, meeting Martinelli’s cross with a header that prompted Kepa Arrizabalaga to make a fine save.
Rice broke the deadlock in the 34th minute, sprinting onto Odegaard’s beautiful pass and rounding Kepa to score into an empty net before bowing to the crowd in celebration.
Evanilson nearly caught David Raya off guard with a 40-yard lob after the Arsenal custodian mishandled a ball to the striker.
Saka failed to head tamely at Kepa from Martinelli’s cross right after the break.
Saka moved closer moments later, cutting inside for a curler that flew beyond the far post.
Arsenal had failed to win nine league games in which they were leading this season, a shortcoming that contributed significantly to their championship race defeat.
Arteta’s side was caught off guard when Bournemouth equalised with their first shot on goal in the 67th minute.
Antoine Semenyo delivered a long pass into the Arsenal area, and Huijsen dodged Rice as he ascended to loop a header over Raya into the far corner from six yards out.
The Gunners had lost their way, and Evanilson punished them in the 75th minute.
Marcus Tavernier flicked the ball towards the far post, and Evanilson pushed it home, allowing Bournemouth to celebrate after a VAR probe for a probable handball.
